Faculty Profile
Kate W. Bauer, PhD, MS
- Associate Professor, Nutritional Sciences
Trained as a behavioral epidemiologist, Dr. Bauer's research focuses on understanding social, personal, and behavioral influences on children's healthy eating and weight, and translating these findings into innovative nutrition promotion and obesity prevention programs. She is particularly interested in identifying factors that affect parents' ability to engage in effective nutrition-related parenting.
- PhD in Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 2010
- MS in Health and Social Behavior, Harvard School of Public Health, 2002
- BA with High Honors in Psychology, Oberlin College, 1998
Research Interests:
Social and behavioral determinants of children's nutrition and weight, family-based
obesity prevention
Research Projects:
Bauer is the lead of Feeding MI Families, which seeks to elevate families' food security
experiences, perspectives, and needs by developing parent-driven recommendations to
build more equitable and responsive nutrition assistance systems in Michigan.
With support from the NIH, Bauer leads several studies to understand the role of parents' emotional and behavioral self-regulation on parenting practices and children's health outcomes.
In collaboration with Dr. Natasha Schvey at the Uniformed Services University, Bauer has developed and is testing a measure of weight stigma directed at parents.
Email: kwbauer@umich.edu
Office: 734-763-2546
For media inquiries: sph.media@umich.edu
Areas of Expertise: Child Health, Health Equity, Nutrition
Kate Bauer in the News
Restriction vs. incentives: The complex reality of SNAP food policies
U-M expert: SNAP food restrictions don't improve health outcomes, while incentive programs show promise
Michigan Public Health fellowship program equips parents to shape policies, improve food security
The Feeding MI Families Community Food Advocacy Fellowship trains Michigan parents to advocate for better food access and nutrition assistance.
